With July 1 approaching and bringing with it the start of the NBA's free agency period, Detroit Pistons forward/center Greg Monroe is anxiously awaiting the recruiting and signing process.

Monroe, a former Helen Cox star who was in town Saturday to take part in his foundation's youth basketball camp at Delgado, is expected to be one of the league's most sought-after players.

As a restricted free agent, the 24-year-old Monroe said he doesn't know if he'll be moving on from Detroit, where he played his first four NBA seasons, or if he'll sign elsewhere. Ultimately, though, the Pistons will have final say, as they can retain Monroe by matching any offer he receives on the open market.

Still, Monroe expects there to be plenty calls.

"From what I have been told, it'll be like that (college recruiting) a little bit," Monroe said. "But the NBA has really strict rules and you can't talk about it until July 1. Different things come out about teams who are interested, but I won't know for sure until July 1 when I can actually talk to them."

Several teams are expected to show interested in the 6-11, 250-pound Monroe who averaged 15.2 points and 9.3 rebounds while starting all 82 games last season.

Among those teams could be the New Orleans Pelicans, who will enter the free agency period in search of upgrading their center and small forward positions.

While the Pelicans, with about $7 million in salary cap room, don't appear to have enough cap space to sign Monroe, a source said the team has made some initial inquiries to the Pistons about the possibility of working out a sign-and-trade deal.